by Jay Williams
Later in the day they gathered on deck in a sheltered place aft, just the four of them.
“In a way,” said the Professor, “I’m sorry that it’s over. I would have liked to spend a little time with Chief Omata’s people.”
Dr. Grimes was turning over a harpoon head made of bone, given him as a parting gift by the chief. “Astonishing,” he said. “They are a Stone Age people, and yet they live a comfortable, if simple, life. It is amazing how men can survive—have survived over the centuries. And only through their ability to make use of their surroundings.”
“Oh—speaking of that,” said the Professor, “I wonder if our two young friends have kept the tally sticks up to date? Perhaps we can decide who won the duel.”
“Sure,” said Danny. He ran off to the cabin he shared with Joe, and soon returned carrying the two carved sticks.
“Here we are,” he said. “To begin with, we allowed Professor Bullfinch half a notch for thinking of the tally sticks. Then he got one notch for the stone ax, one for the lean-to, one for using the turtle shell as a container, and one for soap.”
“Is that all?” asked the Professor.
“Gee, I’m afraid so. Of course you helped on everything else, but so did the rest of us.”
“And how about Dr. Grimes?”
“Well, let’s see. He thought of the bow-drill, and the trap we set for the natives. And he recognized papayas, which we used for food. Also, he thought of the signal fire, and of smearing the turtle shell with clay so it could be used over the fire. That makes it five to four and a half. But we took half a notch away from him because he got caught in his own trap. So I guess that makes it a draw.”
The Professor laughed heartily, but Dr. Grimes scowled. Then he thrust out his hand.
“It was a good fight, Bullfinch,” he said. “Congratulations! We’ll try it again next year—but with the proper safeguards—and see who wins then.”
“All right. But we’d better try it at home, in my back yard,” the Professor smiled. He reached into his pocket and took out a little stick about three inches long. “I’ve been keeping my own tally,” he said. “According to my record, it was Danny who started our first fire because he had the forethought to carry waterproof matches with him. Let me see: then he thought of the pipeline, hot water, spears, the fruit carrier, the bathtub, and the water wheel. And of course, it was he who prevented us from firing on Chief Omata’s people and harming them.”
“Hmph!” grunted Dr. Grimes. “What about taking a few notches away from him? He got us into some tight spots by acting without thinking. Running off and leaving the radio to burn—”
“No,” said Professor Bullfinch, “I don’t agree. After all, it was terribly important for us to know whether there were other people on the island.”
“But Dr. Grimes is right,” Danny put in in a soft voice. “Hiding the crank—that was silly and stupid. I ought to have all those notches sliced off for that.”
“As long as you realize it, Danny,” said the Professor in a kindly tone, “that’s all that matters. However, to be fair, let’s take one notch away.
“Now Joe. He didn’t do badly either. He thought of gathering birds’ eggs, showed us how to catch and clean fish, made a stone hoe for cleaning out logs, and—er—I suppose you could say he finally found the natives.
“By my reckoning,” finished the Professor, “Danny is the winner!”
“Great!” shouted Joe.
Dr. Grimes agreed. “In spite of his shortcomings, I think Dan is the most practical of us all. In some ways, that is.”
Danny blushed until his face was the same color as his hair. He was saved from further embarrassment by the appearance of Mr. Larkin in the companionway behind them.
“Hey, boys,” called the mate, “how’d you like to talk to your folks?”
“What? How?” they both asked.
“We’ve arranged a radiotelephone relay. Hurry up, before the operator gets tired of waiting.”
They followed him to the radio shack. The radio operator glanced up and said, “Which one is Joseph Pearson?”
“I am.”
“Okay. Here’s your mother.”
“Joe?” Mrs. Pearson’s high voice came from the speaker. “Can you hear me?”
“Hello, Mom. Sure.”
“You sound hoarse. Have you got a cold?”
“No, Mom. I’m fine.”
“We’ve been so worried. I had all I could do to keep your father from rushing down to find you.”
“But we weren’t lost, Ma. Just a little off our course.”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Pearson. “Well, are you all right? Did you get enough to eat?”
“Oh, sure, Ma. We had oysters, turtle steak, fresh fruit, fish—”
“Fish? But you don’t like fish!”
“Gee, that’s right,” said Joe. “I forgot.”
“Well, don’t worry, dear. We’re filling the freezer with steaks. Is there anything special you’d like?”
Joe thought for a moment. Then he said, “Yes. Get some of that breakfast cereal with the Geiger counter offer on the box top.”
“All right. Take care of yourself, darling. Mrs. Dunn wants to talk to Danny now, so I’ll say good-bye. Your father sends his love. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye, Ma,” said Joe. He turned away from the set, and blew his nose loudly.
They heard Mrs. Dunn say, “Danny? Hello, Danny.”
The familiar voice made Danny’s throat close up, and tears start to his eyes. “H-h-hello, Mom,” he said.
“Oh, darling, I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“So’m I, Mom. How are you?”
“Now that you’re safe, I’m fine, too. We’ve been so worried—but never mind that now. How is the Professor? And Dr. Grimes?”
“They’re swell.”
“The lab looks so empty without you and the Professor. And it’s so quiet I don’t know where I am half the time. Well, that won’t last long, I’m sure. You should be home in four or five days, I guess.”
“Er…Mom,” said Danny hesitantly, “I was just thinking—”
“Yes, dear? What is it?”
“Well, of course you know I miss you, Mom. And home, and everything. But Captain Gilbert said that after they drop us the ship is going on to Lima. And I’ve never seen Peru, and after all we have almost a month of vacation left, and there’s nothing to do at home except play croquet—”
He trailed off into silence. After a moment his mother said, “Daniel Dunn!”
“Aw, gee, Mom—” Danny began.
“Not another word! Put the Professor on the phone.”
Professor Bullfinch had been chuckling in the background. He stepped forward and said into the microphone, “Hello, Mrs. Dunn. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Did you hear that boy?”
“Yes,” said the Professor. “But don’t worry. I’ll get him home safely. It’s impossible—or rather I should say, to be scientifically accurate, it’s highly improbable—that anything else will happen to us on this trip.”
There was a silence. Then Mrs. Dunn began laughing.
“Professor Bullfinch,” she said, “Danny is my son, and I love him very much. But when that boy is around, the improbable happens almost immediately and the impossible takes just a little bit longer. Keep an eye on him.”
“I will, Mrs. Dunn,” the Professor laughed. “Good-bye.”
He put his arm around Danny’s shoulder and steered him to the door, and together they went up on deck to rejoin their friends.
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